Analysis: Pollution of Silver Springs not driven by park activity

Published: Saturday, August 24, 2013 at 8:03 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, August 24, 2013 at 8:03 p.m.

An assessment of the environmental conditions at Silver Springs has produced some good news — perhaps mostly for Palace Entertainment, the company that has run the site for more than a decade and will depart next month.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has issued a report that determined some on-site contamination was “primarily confined” to the soil and not leeching into the groundwater at the iconic waterway.

The DEP analysis, released last Monday, relayed the findings of a two-month investigation by a team of the agency’s geologists.

The study appears to dispel the widely held view that Palace was the villain most responsible for dirtying the springs.

The pollutants, mostly expended hydrocarbon fuels, were located in drainage ditches and retention ponds near maintenance areas for boats and vehicles.

The same contaminants were also discovered at a fertilizer mixing site and at an abandoned railroad track.

In other words, the contaminants were found in areas where you might expect to find them, the DEP’s scientists said.

High levels of arsenic appeared on Ross Allen Island, the report noted. That was attributed to the half-century-old treated wood used for the boardwalk — a problem that can be addressed by replacing the wood.

In the study, investigators noted that elevated levels of nitrates, the pollutants blamed for robbing Silver Springs of its clarity and purity, were discovered in many wells around the property.

Two wells were reported to have significantly elevated readings. They were 20 times and eight times, respectively, above the pollution limit set by the DEP.

While DEP officials said the isolated hot spots will receive further monitoring, the study concluded that overall nitrate levels in Silver Springs, albeit a worrisome three times above the state’s adopted ceiling for pollutants, is not driven primarily by contaminants from inside the 242-acre park.

“This issue is not confined to the park boundaries but is rather an issue affecting the capture zone of Silver Springs,” the report said.

Dee Ann Miller, a DEP spokeswoman in Tallahassee, said in an email that the elevated levels of nitrates recorded in Silver Springs and the Silver River are attributable to “regional contributions from past and present sources in the springshed.”

Those may include agricultural operations, septic systems and wastewater facilities, she added.

“These observations do not indicate that the Silver Springs attraction is a significant contributor of nitrates to the Silver River or Silver Springs,” Miller added.

“On-site improvements, such as upgrades to the wastewater system, reduction of impervious surface and stormwater improvements, will further reduce any contributions that occurred as a result of past activities at the site and better protect the spring in the future.”

<p>An assessment of the environmental conditions at Silver Springs has produced some good news — perhaps mostly for Palace Entertainment, the company that has run the site for more than a decade and will depart next month.</p><p>The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has issued a report that determined some on-site contamination was “primarily confined” to the soil and not leeching into the groundwater at the iconic waterway.</p><p>The DEP analysis, released last Monday, relayed the findings of a two-month investigation by a team of the agency's geologists.</p><p>The study appears to dispel the widely held view that Palace was the villain most responsible for dirtying the springs.</p><p>The environmental assessment looked at 13 areas of special concern, sampling 30 wells and surface water, and analyzing 112 soil samples.</p><p>The pollutants, mostly expended hydrocarbon fuels, were located in drainage ditches and retention ponds near maintenance areas for boats and vehicles.</p><p>The same contaminants were also discovered at a fertilizer mixing site and at an abandoned railroad track.</p><p>In other words, the contaminants were found in areas where you might expect to find them, the DEP's scientists said.</p><p>High levels of arsenic appeared on Ross Allen Island, the report noted. That was attributed to the half-century-old treated wood used for the boardwalk — a problem that can be addressed by replacing the wood.</p><p>In the study, investigators noted that elevated levels of nitrates, the pollutants blamed for robbing Silver Springs of its clarity and purity, were discovered in many wells around the property.</p><p>Two wells were reported to have significantly elevated readings. They were 20 times and eight times, respectively, above the pollution limit set by the DEP.</p><p>While DEP officials said the isolated hot spots will receive further monitoring, the study concluded that overall nitrate levels in Silver Springs, albeit a worrisome three times above the state's adopted ceiling for pollutants, is not driven primarily by contaminants from inside the 242-acre park.</p><p>“This issue is not confined to the park boundaries but is rather an issue affecting the capture zone of Silver Springs,” the report said.</p><p>Dee Ann Miller, a DEP spokeswoman in Tallahassee, said in an email that the elevated levels of nitrates recorded in Silver Springs and the Silver River are attributable to “regional contributions from past and present sources in the springshed.”</p><p>Those may include agricultural operations, septic systems and wastewater facilities, she added.</p><p>“These observations do not indicate that the Silver Springs attraction is a significant contributor of nitrates to the Silver River or Silver Springs,” Miller added.</p><p>“On-site improvements, such as upgrades to the wastewater system, reduction of impervious surface and stormwater improvements, will further reduce any contributions that occurred as a result of past activities at the site and better protect the spring in the future.”</p>